Methods and systems for a combined transaction by an assignee on behalf of one or more users

ABSTRACT

Embodiments provide methods, and server systems for performing a combined transaction for one or more scheduled transactions. The method is configured to generate one or more machine readable codes for the one or more scheduled transactions through a first transaction terminal, where each machine readable code is associated with a scheduled transaction of the one or more scheduled transactions. Further, the method includes generating a composite machine readable code based on the one or more machine readable codes. The generation of composite machine readable code further include, at least one authentication attribute of an assignee. The method, furthermore, includes receiving a second transaction request through a second transaction terminal. The second transaction request includes the composite machine readable code. The method facilitates the combined transaction based on authentication of the composite machine readable code, wherein the combined transaction is associated with the one or more scheduled transactions.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to Singapore Patent ApplicationNo. 10201810608V filed on Nov. 27, 2018, the disclosure of which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety as part of the presentapplication.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to payment technology and, moreparticularly to, methods and systems for combined transaction such asgroup cash withdrawals by an assignee on behalf of multiple users usingmachine readable codes.

With the growth of population, especially in developing countries,bringing the growing population under a financial discipline is achallenging task. One of the ways of achieving financial discipline isby getting every unbanked resident across the world under a formalbanking financial system. The process of including millions of unbankedpeople under formal financial system may be termed as ‘financialinclusion’. One of the major challenges with financial inclusion isproviding accessibility to a user account as per the user requirement.In certain locations, such as rural areas or countryside, there is alack of infrastructure that prevents users from accessing their accountsas per their requirement. For example, a user from the rural region maynot have access to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in the rural regionto withdraw cash from the her/his account, whenever required. The usermay have to travel to nearby sub-urban or urban location to visit anATM. Similarly, defense personnel posted in action areas may not haveeasy access to an ATM terminal. Every time the defense personnel are inneed of cash, they are required to travel miles to locate an ATM in anearby region. In such scenarios, the travel might cost them asignificant amount of time and money. In addition, sometimes this timeand travel is wasted if it turns out that the ATM is eithernon-functional or out of cash. In some cases, if the user is a dailywage worker, she/he also loses the day's wage in the process.

In view of the above, presently, people from regions with no easy accessto an ATM terminal, assign a person (also referred to as ‘an assignee’or ‘an authorized person’) to withdraw cash on their behalf from the ATMterminal. The assignee may be anyone who visits a nearby ATM terminaland withdraw money from the ATM terminal on behalf of the user so thatthe user can avoid a trip to the ATM. However, requesting the authorizedperson to perform a transaction on behalf of the user may require theuser to share credentials related to the user bank account with theauthorized person. For example, the user may have to share the password,such as numeric pin and the account number with the authorized personalong with a payment card of the user. The authorized person may carry abunch of payment cards of multiple users to perform transaction/withdrawcash for multiple users from the nearby ATM terminal.

The sharing of credentials related to the user account is fraught withhigh fraud risk as all the credentials required to operate the useraccount is handed over to the authorized person. Additionally, majorityof the population with lack of access to an ATM terminal are illiterateand face difficulty in handling the payment cards and remembering thepasswords.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems, methods,electronic devices, and computer program products for performing a grouptransaction at a transaction terminal by an assignee, where the assigneeis authorized at another transaction terminal by one or more users toperform the group transaction for one or more transactions.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method. The methodincludes various steps, performed by an issuer server, in order toassist a user to access a user account. The method includes a step ofreceiving a first transaction request for performing a combinedtransaction for one or more scheduled transactions at a firsttransaction terminal. The first transaction terminal is configured togenerate one or more machine readable codes corresponding to one or morescheduled transactions, where each machine readable code of the one ormore machine readable codes is associated with a scheduled transactionof the one or more scheduled transactions. Further, the method includesa step of generating a composite machine readable code based on the oneor more machine readable codes. The generation of composite machinereadable code may further include, at least one authentication attributeof an assignee. The method, furthermore, includes a step of receiving asecond transaction request for performing the combined transactionthrough a second transaction terminal. The second transaction requestincludes the composite machine readable code. Lastly, the methodfacilitates the combined transaction which based on authentication ofthe composite machine readable code, wherein the combined transaction isassociated with the one or more scheduled transactions.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a server system.The server system includes a memory and a processor. The memory includesstored instructions and the processor is configured to execute thestored instructions to cause the server system to execute a method. Themethod includes a step of receiving a first transaction request forperforming a combined transaction for one or more scheduled transactionsat a first transaction terminal. The first transaction terminal isconfigured to generate one or more machine readable codes for the one ormore scheduled transactions, where each machine readable code of the oneor more machine readable codes are associated with a scheduledtransaction of the one or more scheduled transactions. Further, themethod includes a step of generating a composite machine readable codebased on the one or more machine readable codes. The generation ofcomposite machine readable code may further include, at least oneauthentication attribute of an assignee. The method, furthermore,includes a step of receiving a second transaction request for performingthe combined transaction through a second transaction terminal. Thesecond transaction request includes the composite machine readable code.Lastly, the method facilitates the combined transaction which is basedon authentication of the composite machine readable code, wherein thecombined transaction includes dispensing money associated with the oneor more scheduled transactions.

Further, one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a firsttransaction terminal. The first transaction terminal includes adatabase, a communication interface, and a processing module. Thedatabase is configured to store executable instructions and thecommunication interface is configured to receive a first transactionrequest for performing a combined transaction for one or more scheduledtransactions. Further, the first transaction terminal includes theprocessing module which is electronically coupled to the user interfaceand the database. The processing module is designed to execute theexecutable instructions to perform at least one step of generating oneor more machine readable codes for the one or more scheduledtransactions, each machine readable code of the one or more machinereadable codes associated with a scheduled transaction of the one ormore scheduled transactions and generating a composite machine readablecode based on the one or more machine readable codes and at least oneauthentication attribute of an assignee.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of example embodiments of the presenttechnology, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example representation of an environment, in whichat least some example embodiments of the present disclosure can beimplemented;

FIG. 2 represents a sequence flow diagram of processing a combinedtransaction for one or more scheduled transactions, in accordance withan example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 represents a sequence flow diagram of generating a machinereadable code such as a Quick Response (QR) code at a first transactionterminal for a scheduled transaction, in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 represents a sequence flow diagram of authorizing an assignee toperform a transaction at the second transaction terminal on behalf ofthe users by assigning the QR code to the assignee, in accordance withan example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 represents a sequence flow diagram of generating a composite QRcode at a first transaction terminal for processing a combinedtransaction of one or more scheduled transactions at a secondtransaction terminal, in accordance with an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6A represents a sequence flow diagram of an assignee performing acombined transaction for one or more scheduled transactions at a secondtransaction terminal, in accordance with an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6B represents a sequence flow diagram of an assignee performing acombined transaction for one or more scheduled transactions at a secondtransaction terminal, in accordance with another example embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 7 illustrates a graphical keypad for providing a sequentialgraphical code at a first transaction terminal and/or second transactionterminal for authenticating a transaction, in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8A illustrates a schematic representation of a User Interface (UI)provisioned at the first transaction terminal depicting transactionoptions for the user, in accordance with an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 8B illustrates a schematic representation of a UI depicting a QRcode generated for a scheduled transaction of a user at a firsttransaction terminal, in accordance with an example embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 8C illustrates a schematic representation of a UI depictingscanning of multiple QR codes at a first transaction terminal forgenerating the composite QR code, in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8D illustrates a schematic representation of a UI depicting thecomposite QR code generated at the first transaction terminal for thecombined transaction of one or more scheduled transactions, inaccordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of method for processing a combinedtransaction at the second transaction terminal in response to acomposite machine readable code generated at a first transactionterminal, in accordance with an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of a first transaction terminalconfigured to generate the composite machine readable code, inaccordance with one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram of a second transaction terminalfor processing combined transactions based on the composite machinereadable code generated at the first transaction terminal, in accordancewith one embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a simplified block diagram of a server system used forfacilitating the combined transaction, in accordance with one embodimentof the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a simplified block diagram of an issuer server forfacilitating the combined transaction, in accordance with one embodimentof the present disclosure; and

FIG. 14 is a simplified block diagram of a payment server forfacilitating the combined transaction, in accordance with one embodimentof the present disclosure.

The drawings referred to in this description are not to be understood asbeing drawn to scale except if specifically noted, and such drawings areonly exemplary in nature.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present disclosure. It will be apparent, however,to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be practicedwithout these specific details.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the present disclosure. The appearance of the phrase “in anembodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternativeembodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, variousfeatures are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments andnot by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which maybe requirements for some embodiments but not for other embodiments.

Moreover, although the following description contains many specifics forthe purposes of illustration, anyone skilled in the art will appreciatethat many variations and/or alterations to said details are within thescope of the present disclosure. Similarly, although many of thefeatures of the present disclosure are described in terms of each other,or in conjunction with each other, one skilled in the art willappreciate that many of these features can be provided independently ofother features. Accordingly, this description of the present disclosureis set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposinglimitations upon, the present disclosure.

The term “issuer server” refers to a server installed at an issuer bankor a financial institute. The issuer bank or the financial institute islinked to one or more Automated Teller Machines (ATMs'). When a userwalks in to an ATM, linked with the issuer bank, to withdraw cash fromhis/her user account, the ATM establishes the communication with theissuer bank as soon as the user provides his/her user accountcredentials. Intelligence required to verify user account and releasethe cash from the issuer bank is implemented in the issuer server.Typically, the user account is linked to a bank, for example an issuerbank. Examples of the user account include, but are not limited to asavings account, a credit account, a checking account, a digital wallet,and a virtual payment account. Each of the user account may beassociated with an entity such as an individual person, a family, acommercial entity, a company, a corporation, a governmental entity, anon-profit organization, and the like.

The term “payment network” refers to a network or collection of systemsused for transfer of funds through use of cash-substitutes. Paymentnetworks may use a variety of different protocols and procedures inorder to process the transfer of money for various types oftransactions. Transactions that may be performed via a payment networkmay include product or service purchases, credit purchases, debittransactions, fund transfers, account withdrawals, etc. Payment networksmay be configured to perform transactions via cash-substitutes, whichmay include payment cards, letters of credit, checks, financialaccounts, etc. Examples of networks or systems configured to perform aspayment networks include those operated by MasterCard®, VISA®,Discover®, American Express®, etc.

The term “first transaction terminal” refers to a stationary automatedmachine installed locally at rural areas and is configured to generate aQR code/composite QR code in response to transaction request. The firsttransaction terminal may be accessed without a payment card. Further,the first transaction terminal may be in communication with at least onesecond transaction terminal and/or a server system so as to facilitateat least a part of the scheduled transaction. The term ‘secondtransaction terminal’ used throughout the disclosure refers to atransaction terminal such as but not limited to an Automated TellerMachine (ATM) installed at semi urban or urban areas, a Point of Sale(POS) terminal or an online merchant terminal for performing atransaction. The second transaction terminal as the ATM facilitatesaccess to user account of respective user for performing a variety offinancial transactions such as, cash withdrawal, deposits, checkbalances, and the like. The POS terminal and the online merchantterminal are examples of a merchant terminal where a user performs atransaction in exchange for goods/services availed from a respectivemerchant. Additionally or optionally, the second transaction terminal isconfigured to facilitate cardless transactions using biometrictechniques for identifying and authenticating identity of the user. Itshall be noted that the second transaction terminal may be remotelyconnected to one or more first transaction terminals so as to facilitatecombined transactions of one or more scheduled transactions.

Overview

Various example embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems,methods, electronic devices, and computer program products forfacilitating a group or combined transaction for one or more scheduledtransactions. More specifically, techniques disclosed herein enableinitiating one or more scheduled transactions for one or more users at alocal terminal (also referred to as a ‘first transaction terminal’) andperform the combined transaction for the one or more scheduledtransactions at a second transaction terminal. In some embodiments, thefirst transaction terminal and the second transaction terminalfacilitate cardless transactions and use authentication techniques suchas, biometric data and graphical codes for identifying user accountdetails and authenticating transactions.

In many example scenarios, users at a remote village may not be able totravel to a location with an ATM terminal for performing transactionssuch as cash withdrawal or purchase of goods/services and they authorizeother persons visiting the second transaction terminal and entrust themwith their payments cards and passwords which may potentially result infraudulent activities. To address such challenges, the presentdisclosure provides techniques for users at remote locations to securelyauthorize an assignee to complete their transactions. In an embodiment,a user may visit the first transaction terminal to authenticate andauthorize the assignee for a scheduled transaction that the assignee mayperform later at the second transaction terminal. The first transactionterminal is adapted to meet needs of the users at the remote locationand may not require payment cards to access user account details of theusers. In at least one example embodiment, the first transactionterminal captures biometric data, for example, fingerprint or facialfeatures to identify the user and thereby the relevant account details.Further, the first transaction terminal authenticates identity of theusers using one or more authentication techniques such as, by promptingthe users to provide various biometric data and/or passwords. In atleast one example embodiment, the passwords are graphical codes that therural users may easily recollect to authenticate their identity.Moreover, the first transaction terminal and/or the second transactionterminal facilitate a graphical keypad for the users to provide thegraphical code. Additionally, the first transaction terminal isconfigured to communicate in regional language with the rural usersthrough the interactive display as well as through voice annunciation.

In at least one example embodiment, a user of the remote location/ruraluser may place a request for a machine readable code such as a QR codecorresponding to the scheduled transaction at the first transactionterminal. It shall be noted that hereinafter for description purposesthe machine readable code has been explained with reference to a QR codefor the sake of simplicity. Accordingly, a composite machine readablecode generated at the first transaction terminal by aggregating one ormore machine readable codes and authentication attribute of the assigneeis explained with an example of a composite QR code. However, it shouldbe apparent to a person skilled in the art that embodiments of thedisclosure can also be practiced with any other machine readable code.The user may be prompted by the first transaction terminal to provide atransaction amount for the scheduled transaction. When the user providesthe transaction amount, the first transaction terminal generates the QRcode for the scheduled transaction of the user at the first transactionterminal. The QR code includes user account details of the user, thetransaction amount and a validity for the QR code. The user can nowassign the QR code to another user (referred to as ‘an assignee’) whocan perform the scheduled transaction on behalf of the user at thesecond transaction terminal.

In some example embodiments, the user may assign the scheduledtransaction to the assignee by providing an authentication attribute ofthe assignee. For example, the assignee may be identified and verifiedat the first transaction terminal and the user may authenticate theassignee to perform the scheduled transaction. In such cases, acomposite QR code is generated at the first transaction terminal. Thecomposite QR code includes user account details of the user, transactionamount for the scheduled transaction, and an authentication attribute ofthe assignee. The authentication attribute may be any or combination ofbiometric data or password such as, a numerical code.

In some example embodiments, one or more users may place a firsttransaction request for a composite QR code. The first transactionrequest includes one or more QR codes corresponding to one or morescheduled transactions from one or more users and the authenticationattribute of the assignee. The composite QR code can be assigned to theassignee, and the composite QR code enables the assignee to perform acombined transaction for the one or more scheduled transactions at thesecond transaction terminal. The one or more users may be identified andauthenticated separately at the first transaction terminal. Then the QRcodes corresponding to each scheduled transaction of the one or morescheduled transactions are provided by each user of the one or moreusers. The QR codes are tied with the authentication attribute of theassignee to generate the composite QR code at the first transactionterminal.

At the second transaction terminal, the assignee may place a secondtransaction request including the composite QR code for a combinedtransaction of the one or more scheduled transactions. The identity ofthe assignee may be authenticated, and he/she may provide the compositeQR code at the second transaction terminal. Upon authentication, thesecond transaction terminal is configured to facilitate the combinedtransaction. The combined transaction may be a group withdrawal of cashfor the one or more scheduled transactions or purchase ofproducts/services at a merchant terminal in exchange for cash debitedfrom respective user accounts associated with the one or more scheduledtransactions.

The methods and systems facilitating combined transaction for one ormore scheduled transactions from first and second transaction terminalswithout the usage of payment card are described hereinafter withreference to FIGS. 1 to 14.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example representation of an environment 100, inwhich at least some example embodiments of the present disclosure can beimplemented.

The environment 100 depicts a rural area 102 with limited access tofinancial institutions in a surrounding region. Examples of the ruralarea 102 include villages, action area where defense personnel areposted, places located on the extreme borders and the like, wherein thefacilities like ATM is not available. A first transaction terminal 104stationed in the rural area 102 is an automated machine configured toallow rural users, for example, users 106, 108 to access user accountslocally and perform at least a part of transactions at the firsttransaction terminal 104. In one example, the users 106, 108 may be anyperson or entity holding a user account in the issuer bank. The firsttransaction terminal 104 facilitates cardless access of user account forperforming transactions. When the users 106, 108 open a user accountwith the issuer bank, the issuer bank may collect at least one biometricdata of the users 106, 108. For example, biometric data such as but notlimited to facial features, one or more speech features, iris pattern,finger print are collected from the users 106, 108. The collectedbiometric data is linked with user specific details in the user accountsuch as user name, age, address, contact details, and the like. The useraccount is created and is assigned with a unique account number. Thecreated user account may be used by the user 106 for any financialtransactions. The user account and the associated user details such asbiometric data, user specific details, and the like are stored in adatabase associated with the issuer bank. Additionally or optionally,the issuer bank may provide a password, for example, a graphical codefor authenticating transactions performed by the users 106,108.

In one example, the first transaction terminal 104 is configured withone or more sensors (not shown in FIG. 1) that are designed to collectat least one biometric data of the user 106. For example, an imagecapturing device embodied or connected with the first transactionterminal 104 captures facial features for identifying the user 106. Thecapturing of the facial features of the user 106 is initiated by aproximity sensor that detects the user 106 in a close proximity of thefirst transaction terminal 104. The first transaction terminal 104identifies the user 106 based on the facial features and retrieves useraccount details of the user 106. The first transaction terminal 104 mayfurther prompt the users 106/108 to provide additional biometric data toverify the users 106/108 and/or user account details that have beenretrieved based on the biometric data. Moreover, the first transactionterminal 104 may be configured to communicate with the users 106/108 ina regional language for processing the transaction. In some exampleembodiments, the users 106/108 may be prompted to authenticate thetransaction using a password such as, the graphical code. The graphicalcode is a sequence of images similar to a numeric PersonalIdentification Number (PIN). The first transaction terminal 104 isconfigured to generate a QR code corresponding to the user accountdetails of the users 106/108 and a transaction amount requested by theusers 106/108 after authentication. However, the first transactionterminal 104 is not configured to dispense money based on thetransaction amount. In at least one example embodiment the firsttransaction terminal 104 communicates with a second transaction terminal112 to place a hold on the transaction amount requested by the users106/108 upon generating the QR code for the users 106/108.

The environment 100 also depicts a kiosk 111 equipped with the secondtransaction terminal 112 at an urban or sub-urban region. An example ofthe second transaction terminal 112 is the ATM. In some exampleembodiments, the user 106 may travel to the second transaction terminal112 to perform a cardless transaction without a QR code. Theidentification and/or verification techniques employed by the secondtransaction terminal 112 are identical to techniques employed by thefirst transaction terminal 104. Additionally, the second transactionterminal 112 is capable of dispensing cash equivalent to the transactionamount requested by the user 106. However, the user 106 performing sucha transaction at the second transaction terminal 112 is fraught with arisk that the second transaction terminal 112 may be running out of cashthat may be requested by the user 106. However, to overcome suchsituations and ensure up front that the second transaction terminal 112has sufficient cash, the user 106 may generate a QR code for a scheduledtransaction at the first transaction terminal 104 (as explained above)and then travel to the second transaction terminal 112 to withdraw thetransaction amount for the scheduled transaction. The generation of theQR code blocks the transaction amount at the second transaction terminal112 for the predefined time frame.

In an embodiment, the user 106 may have to travel to the kiosk at theurban region to collect money equivalent to the transaction amount.However, the user 106 may not be able to travel to the kiosk 111 at theurban region. In such cases, the user 106 may authorize the user 108(also referred to as “an assignee 108) to perform a scheduledtransaction on behalf of the user 106 at the second transaction terminal112. The user 106 places a first transaction request at the firsttransaction terminal 104 for a composite QR code. The authorization ofthe assignee 108 for the scheduled transaction is done at the firsttransaction terminal 104. It shall be noted that the assignee 108 has tohold a user account at any financial institution for performingfunctions as an authorized person to perform the scheduled transaction.The assignee 108 is authenticated and the QR code of the user 106 forthe scheduled transaction is scanned at the first transaction terminal104 and the user 106 authorizes the user 108 as the assignee for thescheduled transaction. The first transaction terminal 104 generates thecomposite QR code including user account details of the user 106,validity of the QR code, transaction amount for the scheduledtransaction, and at least one authentication attribute of the assignee108. The authentication attribute may be any of a biometric data of theassignee 108 or a password such as, a graphical code or One TimePassword (OTP). More specifically, an issuer server 114 associated witha financial institution normally called as the “issuer bank” or “issuingbank” or simply “issuer”, in which the user 106 may have the useraccount generates the QR code and/or the composite QR code for the firsttransaction terminal 104.

In some example embodiments, two or more users may authorize theassignee 108 to perform a combined transaction at the second transactionterminal 112. In such cases, QR codes generated individually forscheduled transactions of the two or more users are combined with theauthentication attribute of the assignee 108 at the first transactionterminal 104 to generate the composite QR code. The composite QR code isgenerated in response to the first transaction request for a compositeQR code for facilitating a combined transaction. In some exampleembodiments, a scheduled transaction individually assigned to theassignee 108 may also be combined by the assignee 108 with many suchscheduled transactions that have been individually assigned to theassignee 108 for generating the composite QR code.

The assignee 108 may travel to the kiosk 111 at the urban region forprocessing the combined transaction. The second transaction terminal 112may be remotely connected to the first transaction terminal 104 forfacilitating the combined transaction. It shall be noted that the firsttransaction terminal 104 may be connected to one or more secondtransaction terminals for facilitating the combined transaction that wasinitiated at the first transaction terminal 104. Moreover, the secondtransaction terminal 112 provisions options for cardless transactions.The assignee 108 may be identified based on at least one biometric dataand the user account details of the assignee 108 are fetched forprocessing the transaction. The assignee 108 may place a secondtransaction request to perform a combined transaction. For example, theassignee 108 may select an option from one or more options provisionedat the second transaction terminal 112 for performing the combinedtransaction. The composite QR code is scanned at the second transactionterminal 112 and the user account details of the users for one or morescheduled transactions, transactions amount for the one or morescheduled transactions, validity of the one or more scheduledtransactions and authentication attribute of the assignee 108 areretrieved from the composite QR code. The second transaction terminal112 verifies the authentication attribute of the assignee 108 and sendsa request for performing the combined transaction to the issuer server114.

The processing of the first transaction request and second transactionrequest may be facilitated by one or more server systems and a paymentnetwork 118. Examples of the one or more server systems include theissuer server 114, an acquirer server 116, and a payment server 120. Anexample of the combined transaction is a group cash withdrawal. Anotherexample of the combined transaction may include a money transfer in anacquirer account associated with the acquirer server 116.

The acquirer server 116 is associated with the financial institutionnormally called as a “merchant bank” or the “acquiring bank” or“acquirer bank” or simply “acquirer”. In one example, the first and/orsecond transaction terminals may be associated with the acquirer bank.For example, the first transaction terminal 104 receives firsttransaction request from the user 106 which is processed by the acquirerserver 116. The first transaction request is further forwarded to theissuer server 114, which is associated with the issuer bank in which theuser 106 holds the user account. Similarly, in another example, the useraccount of the assignee 108 may be associated with the acquirer bank.For example, the second transaction terminal 112 receives the secondtransaction request along with the at least one biometric data of theassignee 108. As the assignee 108 holds the user account with theacquirer server 116, the acquirer server 116 process the biometric dataof the assignee 108 and sends an acknowledgement indicating successfulverification to the issuer server 114.

Using the payment network 118, one or more systems of the acquirerserver 116 will communicate with one or more systems of the issuerserver 114 to determine whether the user account of the user 106 (orother user accounts of users who are a part of the combined transaction)is in good standing and have a balance amount equivalent or greater thanthe transaction amount. Upon validating the user account, authorizationof the first and/or second transaction requests are declined oraccepted. When the authorization is accepted, the available balance ofthe user account is decreased.

The request is sent to the issuer server 114 through a network 110.Examples of the network 110 may include any type of wired network,wireless network, or a combination of wired and wireless networks. Awireless network may be a wireless local area network (“WLAN”), awireless wide area network (“WWAN”), or any other type of wirelessnetwork now known or later developed. Additionally, the network 110 maybe or include the Internet, intranets, extranets, microwave networks,satellite communications, cellular systems, personal communicationservices (“PCS”), infrared communications, global area networks, orother suitable networks, etc. or any combination of two or more suchnetworks.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a sequence flow diagram 200 of processing acombined transaction for one or more scheduled transactions isillustrated in accordance with an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

At 202, the users 106, 108 provide authorization data at the firsttransaction terminal 104 for a first scheduled transaction (S1). In anexample, a biometric data such as, facial features of the user 106 maybe captured by the first transaction terminal 104. Similarly,authorization data of the user 108 may be received to authorize the user108 for performing a second scheduled transaction (S2). The terms ‘firstscheduled transaction’ associated with the user 106 and the ‘secondscheduled transaction’ associated with the user 108 are hereinafterreferred to as ‘scheduled transactions (S1, S2)’. In some exampleembodiments, the users 106, 108 may be prompted to enter credentials,such as, a graphical code for authentication of the users 106, 108. Insome examples, a Personal Identification Number (PIN) may also be usedfor authorizing the users 106, 108 in place of or in addition to thegraphical code. An example of the graphical code may be a sequence ofgraphical key inputs on a UI at the first transaction terminal 104 suchas, an image of a dog, an ox, a plough, and a tractor. The firsttransaction terminal 104 may receive the authorization data from theusers 106, 108 for respective scheduled transactions (S1, S2)sequentially.

At 204, the first transaction terminal 104 authorizes the users 106, 108for respective scheduled transactions sequentially. The facial featuresof the user 106 may be used to retrieve user account details of the user106. For example, the facial features of the user 106 may be comparedagainst a plurality of pre-stored facial features to determine apre-stored facial feature that matches with the facial features of theuser 106. The plurality of pre-stored facial features is captured from aplurality of users and stored against their respective user accountdetails. The user account details of the user 106 are retrieved based onthe pre-stored facial feature that matches the facial features of theuser 106. Additionally or optionally, the first transaction terminal 104may receive biometric data such as, voice samples or fingerprint forfurther verifying identity of the user 106 associated with the useraccount details.

At 206, the user 106 initiates a first transaction request (T1) at thefirst transaction terminal 104. The first transaction request includes atransaction amount (A1) that the user 106 intends to debit from the useraccount of the user 106. Similarly, the user 108 initiates a firsttransaction request (T2) for debiting a transaction amount (A2) at thefirst transaction terminal 104. In some example embodiment, the firsttransaction terminal 104 sends a request to a server system 201 forverifying the user account of the users 106, 108 based on the firsttransaction requests (T1, T2). For example, the server system 201 checksif the users accounts of the users 106, 108 have a balance amount toprovision for the transaction amounts (A1, A2).

At 208, the first transaction terminal 104 generates a machine readablecode (Q1) in response to the first transaction request (T1) of the user106. An example of the machine readable code is a Quick Response (QR)code. The machine readable code (Q1) includes user account details ofthe user 106, credentials of the user 106, the transaction amount (A1)and a validity of the machine readable code (Q1). For example, themachine readable code for the scheduled transaction (S1) may be validfor 24 hours. In some example embodiments, the machine readable code(Q1) may also include merchant details of a merchant at where thescheduled transaction (S1) has to be performed. For instance, the firsttransaction terminal 104 may include options to select a merchant from apre-stored list of merchants. The merchant details may include amerchant name and/or a merchant identifier. Similarly, the firsttransaction terminal 104 generates a machine readable code (Q2) inresponse to the first transaction request (T2) of the user 108. Itshould be noted that the steps 206 and 208 may be performed for the user106 followed by performing the steps 206 and 208 for the user 108.Additionally or optionally, the first transaction terminal 104communicates with the second transaction terminal 112 to holdtransaction amounts (A1, A2) corresponding the first transactionrequests (T1, T2) at the second transaction terminal 112 for apredefined time frame, say 24 hours. Such communication of the firsttransaction terminal 104 with the second transaction terminal 112 forblocking/holding funds ensures that the second transaction terminal 112has adequate cash/money equivalent to the transaction amounts (A1, A2)when the assignee 108 visits the second transaction terminal 112 forperforming a combined transaction (or the scheduled transactions S1,S2). However, it should be apparent to a person skilled in the art thatplacing a hold on the transaction amounts at the second transactionterminal 112, such as, an ATM interface may not be necessary when thetransaction is for a merchant at the merchant terminal.

At 210, the user 106/user 108 places a request for generating acomposite machine readable code for the scheduled transactions (S1, S2).For instance, the user 106 may not be able to visit the secondtransaction terminal 112 for performing a transaction/withdrawing money.In such cases, the user 106 may request the user 108 to perform thetransaction on behalf of the user 106. In such a scenario, the machinereadable code of the user 106 may be combined with an authenticationattribute of the user 108 for generating the composite machine readablecode. In some example embodiments, the composite machine readable codeis generated by combining the machine readable codes (Q1, Q2) of theusers 106, 108, respectively along with an authentication attribute ofthe user 108 (also referred to as ‘the assignee 108’). Theauthentication attribute of the assignee 108 may include but not limitedto, user account details of the assignee 108 or at least one biometricdata of the assignee 108. In at least one example embodiment, the users106, 108 may also provide details of a merchant associated with amerchant terminal at where the scheduled transactions (S1, S2) are to beperformed by the assignee 108. More specifically, the composite machinereadable code is configured such that it includes information forfacilitating a combined transaction for the scheduled transactions (S1,S2) at the second transaction terminal 112 for the transaction amounts(A1, A2) of the users 106, 108, respectively.

At 212, the request for generating the composite machine readable codeis sent to a server system 201. The server system 201 may be any of theacquirer server 116, the issuer server 114, or the payment server 120.

At 214, the server system 201 generates the composite machine readablecode as explained with respect to step 210 and sends it to the firsttransaction terminal 104. In an embodiment, when the composite machinereadable code is generated, the machine readable codes (Q1, Q2) areblocked and the machine readable codes (Q1, Q2), individually, may notbe valid to perform transactions for the transaction amounts (A1, A2) atthe second transaction terminal 112.

At 216, the first transaction terminal 104 prints the composite machinereadable code for the assignee 108.

At 218, the assignee 108 places a second transaction request at thesecond transaction terminal 112. The second transaction request includesthe composite machine readable code. In one embodiment, the secondtransaction terminal 112 is an ATM interface which the assignee 108visits to perform group withdrawal for the scheduled transactions (S1,S2) of the users 104, 106. For instance, the assignee 108 collectscash/money worth the transaction amounts (A1+A2) dispensed at the ATMinterface for the users 104, 106. In another embodiment, the secondtransaction terminal 112 is the merchant terminal of the merchant wherethe users 106, 108 and/or assignee 108 have purchased goods/services.For example, if the rural users 104, 106, and 108 intend to buy booksfor a community library, they may purchase the books via an onlinemerchant store with help of a person, say, the assignee 108. In suchcases, the rural users 104, 106, and 108 may agree on sharing costs (C1)incurred for purchasing the books. The users 104, 106, and 108 mayindividually initiate scheduled transactions (S1, S2, S3) for thetransaction amounts (A1, A2, A3) at the first transaction terminal 104and then subsequently combine the machine readable codes of scheduledtransactions (S1, S2, and S3) for performing a combined transaction atmerchant terminal of the merchant by generating the composite machinereadable code.

At 220, the second transaction terminal 112 reads the composite machinereadable code. For instance, the second transaction terminal 112identifies and retrieves details of the assignee 108 and at least oneauthentication attribute of the assignee 108.

At 222, the second transaction terminal 112 sends an authenticationrequest to the assignee 108. The second transaction terminal 112provides cardless access to user account for performing transactions.Accordingly, at least one biometric data of the assignee 108 may bereceived by the second transaction terminal 112 for authorizing theassignee 108.

At 224, the assignee 108 provides the authentication data. Examples ofthe authentication data may include but not limited to facial features,iris pattern, fingerprint, graphical code, and the like forauthenticating the assignee 108.

At 226, the second transaction terminal 112 verifies the authenticationdata of the assignee 108. For example, the authentication data may becompared against the at least one authentication attribute of theassignee 108.

At 228, the scheduled transactions (S1, S2) are completed. The secondtransaction terminal 112 reads the machine readable codes (Q1, Q2) fromthe composite machine readable code and further checks the validity ofthe machine readable codes (Q1, Q2). If the machine readable codes arevalid (Q1, Q2), the second transaction terminal 112 sends a request tothe server system 201 for validating the user account associated withmachine readable codes (Q1, Q2). The transaction amounts (A1, A2) aredebited by the server system 201 from respective user accounts of theusers 106, 108. If the assignee 108 performed the combined transactionat the ATM interface, the transaction amounts (A1, A2) temporarily heldat the second transaction terminal 112 based on the communicationreceived from the first transaction terminal 104 is dispensed to theassignee 108. For example, the second transaction terminal 112 receivesinstructions from the server system 201 for dispensing money equivalentto the transaction amounts (A1, A2) for the assignee 108 based on theverification. If the combined transaction is performed at the merchantterminal, the transaction amounts (A1, A2) are debited from useraccounts of the users 104, 106, 108 and credited to a merchant accountassociated with the merchant.

FIG. 3 represents a sequence flow diagram 300 of generating a QuickResponse (QR) code at the first transaction terminal 104 for a scheduledtransaction, in accordance with an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The user 106 may perform a part of the scheduled transactionat the first transaction terminal 104 installed locally for generatingthe QR code. If the user 106 is unable to visit the second transactionterminal 112 for performing the scheduled transaction, the user 106 maygenerate the QR code at the first transaction terminal 104 and furtherassign it to an authorized person who may perform the scheduledtransaction on his/her behalf.

At 302, the first transaction terminal 104 receives facial features fromthe user 106. For instance, when the user 106 approaches the firsttransaction terminal 104, the first transaction terminal 104 detects thepresence of the user 106. In one example, the presence of the user 106may be detected by the first transaction terminal 104 with the help ofat least one proximity sensor. When the user 106 is in the vicinity ofthe first transaction terminal 104, the proximity sensors activate atleast one biometric sensor disposed on the first transaction terminal104. Further, in another example, the first transaction terminal 104 isdisposed with an image capturing device such as, a camera. The camera isconfigured to capture facial features of the user 106.

At 304, the facial features of the user 106 captured by the camera aresent to the issuer server 114.

At 306, the issuer server 114 processes the facial features received bythe user 106 to retrieve the associated user account details. Morespecifically, the issuer server 114 compares the received facialfeatures with a plurality of pre-stored biometric data of a plurality ofusers stored in a database associated with the issuer server 114. Eachpre-stored biometric data of the plurality of pre-stored biometric dataof a user, for example, the user 106 is linked with user account detailsof the user 106. The step 306 may be performed to identify the user 106and upon identifying the user 106, the user account details of the user106 are retrieved from the database.

At 308, the user account details of the user 106 are sent to the firsttransaction terminal 104. At 310, the first transaction terminal 104prompts the user 106 to provide his/her voice input. For instance, thefirst transaction terminal 104 may play a welcome message, from one ormore speakers installed on the first transaction terminal 104, to theuser 106 and requests the user 106 to provide his/her name, for example,the message may sound like, ‘WELCOME TO THE BANK X, KINDLY PROVIDE YOURNAME’. In one example, depending on the location of the firsttransaction terminal 104 where it is stationed, the first transactionterminal 104 plays the welcome message in the regional language of thelocation to make the interaction more personal to the user 106.

At 312, in response to the message played by the first transactionterminal 104, the user 106 provides his/her voice input by speaking outhis/her name. At 314, the user name is recorded by the first transactionterminal 104, which is further sent to the issuer server 114. At 316,the issuer server 114 processes the voice input. In one example, theissuer server 114 may, firstly, convert the speech to text and identifythe user name. Alternatively, the voice input may be used as the one ofthe biometric inputs, and one or more speech features are extracted toestablish identity of the user 106. In an example, the name and thevoice identification along with facial features are mapped to apre-stored bio-metric data of the user 106, which is collected from theuser 106 during a registration of the user 106 with the issuing bank.The mapping of biometric data retrieved from the user 106 to thepre-stored biometric data of the user 106 enable verification ofidentity of the user 106 prior to further processing of the scheduledtransaction. Examples of the biometric data include but not limited tofacial features, fingerprint, speech features, iris pattern, and thelike.

At 318, the identity of the user 106 is established when the issuerserver 114 sends an authorization successful message to the firsttransaction terminal 104. At 320, the first transaction terminal 104prompts the user 106 to solve one or more visual challenges. In oneexample, visual challenges may be simple puzzles to make sure the user106 is not a robot. For example, the puzzles may be identification ofcolors, identification of animals, simple math problems, and the like.

At 322, the user 106 provides a response to the challenges/puzzles. At324, the first transaction terminal 104 is configured to process theresponse submitted by the user 106 in response to the prompted visualchallenge for confirming that the user 106 is a human and not aspam/robot.

Optionally, at 326, the first transaction terminal 104 prompts the user106 to provide a graphical code (password) to validate the scheduledtransaction. In one example, the graphical code may be series of imagessuch as a picture of a horse followed by a human image followed by animage of rabbit and an image of dog. It shall be noted that the firsttransaction terminal 104 provisions a graphical keypad (see, FIG. 7) inplace of a numerical keypad to provide the graphical code. At 328, theuser 106 provides the graphical code at the first transaction terminal104. At 330, the first transaction terminal 104 sends the graphical codeto the issuer server 114.

At 332, the issuer server 114 verifies the password (graphical code) andauthenticates the scheduled transaction. For example, the issuer server114 compares the graphical code against a pre-stored graphical code withthe user account details of the user 106. At 334, an acknowledgement issent to the first transaction terminal 104 confirming authentication ofthe user 106 for the scheduled transaction.

At 336, the first transaction terminal 104 prompts the user to provide atransaction amount for the scheduled transaction to be performed at thesecond transaction terminal 112. At 338, the user 106 provides thetransaction amount at the first transaction terminal 104. In oneexample, the user 106 may provide the transaction amount via voice inputand/or typing the transaction amount at a user interface of the firsttransaction terminal 104. As an example, when the first transactionterminal 104 prompts the user 106 to provide the transaction amount, sayin a regional language of the user 106, the user 106 may speak out thetransaction amount in the regional language in response to the prompt ofthe first transaction terminal 104.

At 340, the first transaction terminal 104 captures the transactionamount and sends it to the issuer server 114. The first transactionterminal 104 may locally process the voice input or user inputs on theuser interface and determines the transaction amount that is sent to theissuer server 114.

At 342, the issuer server 114 validates the scheduled transaction. Theissuer server 114 verifies an account balance in the user account of theuser 106. In one example, the issuer server 114 verifies whether theaccount balance is sufficient to fund the scheduled transaction for thetransaction amount requested by the user 106.

At 344, the issuer server 114 generates the QR code for the scheduledtransaction. The QR code includes the user account details, transactionamount, and a validity of the QR code. In at least one exampleembodiment, money equivalent to the transaction amount is placed on holdat the second transaction terminal 112 for the scheduled transaction ofthe user 106. The first transaction terminal 104 may optionally displaya message indicating to the user 106 about the money held temporarilytill an expiry of the QR code for the scheduled transaction.

At 346, the issuer server 114 sends the QR code to the first transactionterminal 104. At 348, the first transaction terminal 104 equipped with aprinter is configured to print the QR code for the scheduledtransaction. In another example, after generating the QR code, theissuer server 114 may send the QR code to a user device of the user 106.The QR code is generated for the scheduled transaction of the user 106.Similarly, multiple users may generate multiple QR codes by means of themethod described with reference to FIG. 3.

As explained above, the user 106 performs at least a part of thescheduled transaction at the first transaction terminal 104 and completethe scheduled transaction at the second transaction terminal 112.Herein, the part of scheduled transaction refers to authentication ofthe user and generation of the QR code containing the informationrelated to the scheduled transaction. For example, the user 106 maygenerate the QR code at the first transaction terminal 104 and assign itto a person (e.g., the user/assignee 108) who can subsequently travel tothe second transaction terminal 112 for performing the scheduledtransaction and collect the transaction amount. The assignee 108 isrequired to scan the QR code and the money equivalent to the transactionamount is dispensed from the second transaction terminal 112 (alsoreferred to as ‘an ATM interface’).

FIG. 4 represents a sequence flow diagram 400 of authorizing theassignee 108 to perform a scheduled transaction at the secondtransaction terminal 112 on behalf of the user 106 by assigning the QRcode to the assignee 108, in accordance with an example embodiment ofthe present disclosure. If the user 106 is not able to perform thescheduled transaction at the second transaction terminal 112, the user106 may wish to authorize the assignee 108 to perform the scheduledtransaction at the second transaction terminal 112. Accordingly, theuser 106 assigns the QR code generated at the first transaction terminal104 to the assignee 108 by combining at least one authenticationattribute of the assignee 108 with the QR code including user accountdetails, validity of the QR code, and the transaction amount to generatea composite QR code.

Although the method 400 is described with taking example of one user 106assigning the QR code to the assignee 108, it should be noted thatmultiple such users 106 can assign their QR codes to the assignee 108.For instance, all of the users 106 can generate QR codes as per theprocess described with reference to FIG. 3, and the first transactionterminal 104 is configured to concatenate the QR codes to generate thecomposite QR code, where the composite QR code has all the detailsneeded to perform a combined scheduled transaction at the secondtransaction terminal 112 by the assignee 108.

The flow diagram 400 start at 402, where the user 106 obtains the QRcode from the first transaction terminal 104 (through the methoddescribed with reference to FIG. 3). At 404, the user 106 approaches thefirst transaction terminal 104 with the QR code. At 406, the user 106scans the QR code at the first transaction terminal 104. In one example,the first transaction terminal 104 includes a scanning module that isconfigured to scan the QR code. The scanning module in the firsttransaction terminal 104 reads the QR code to determine QR code datasuch as, user account details of the user 106, validity of the QR code,and the transaction amount of the scheduled transaction. At 408, the QRcode data is forwarded to the issuer server 114. At 410, the issuerserver 114 processes the QR code data to check validity of the QR code.At 412, on determining the validity of the QR code, an acknowledgment issent to the first transaction terminal 104.

At 414, the first transaction terminal 104 provisions one or more UIsand prompts the user 106 to select an option among a plurality ofoptions displayed on the UI of the first transaction terminal 104. Forexample, the first transaction terminal 104 may provision options suchas but limited to, ‘BLOCK QR CODE’, ‘ASSIGN QR CODE’, ‘COMBINE QRCODES’, ‘CHANGE TRANSACTION AMOUNT’, ‘CHECK TRANSACTION AMOUNT’ and thelike. As an example, the user 106 may provide a selection input on theoption associated with text ‘CHECK TRANSACTION AMOUNT’, the user 106 maycheck the transaction amount and reassure himself/herself. By selectingthe option associated with text ‘CHANGE THE TRANSACTION AMOUNT’, theuser 106 may change the transaction amount for the scheduledtransactions.

At 416, the user 106 selects the option associated with text ‘ASSIGN QRCODE’ to assign the QR code to the assignee 108, who may perform thescheduled transaction at the second transaction terminal 112 on behalfof the user 106. The user 106 may either provide a selection input orprovide a voice input that may automatically provision another UI forproviding details of the assignee 108.

At 418, on receiving the selection input on the option ‘ASSIGN QR CODETO ASSIGNEE’ or the voice input corresponding to the option from theuser 106, the first transaction terminal 104 pops a message on the UI,requesting at least one authentication attribute of the assignee 108.Examples of the at least one authentication attribute include but notlimited to finger print, facial features, iris pattern, voice input orany biometric data.

At 420, the assignee 108 provides facial features to the firsttransaction terminal 104. In one example, the camera disposed in thefirst transaction terminal 104 captures facial features of the assignee108. It shall be noted that facial features have been used as an exampleto describe the at least one authentication attribute and the assignee108 may provide any alternate biometric data as an authenticationattribute.

At 422, the facial features of the assignee 108 are sent to the issuersever 114 and at 424, the facial features of the assignee 108 areprocessed to retrieve user account details of the assignee 108. It shallbe noted that description of the present disclosure is limited to theassignee 108 being a part of the financial system and holding at leastone user account. In one example, the facial features (authenticationattribute) of the assignee 108 are compared against a plurality ofpre-stored biometric data associated with a plurality of users, whereineach user is associated with a user account, to determine the pre-storedbiometric data that matches the facial features of the assignee 108.Accordingly, when a match is found, user account details correspondingto the pre-stored biometric data are fetched to establish identity ofthe assignee 108.

At 426, a message establishing identity of the assignee 108 and assigneeaccount details are sent to the first transaction terminal 104. At 428,the first transaction terminal 104 prompts the user 106 to provide thegraphical code. In one example, the graphical code is configured toauthenticate the process of generation of the composite QR code.Optionally, the assignee 108 may also be prompted to provide a graphicalcode corresponding to user account details so as to verify the identityof the assignee 108. At 430, the user 106 provides the graphical code atthe first transaction terminal 104 via the graphical keypad facilitatedat the first transaction terminal 104.

At 432, the graphical code is sent to the issuer server 114 from thefirst transaction terminal 104. At 434, the graphical code of the user106 is verified by the issuer server 114 so as to enable the option ofassigning the QR code to the assignee 108. At 436, the issuer server 114generates a composite QR code. The composite QR code includes the atleast one authentication attribute of the assignee 108, user accountdetails, validity of the QR code and the transaction amount for thescheduled transaction of the user 106. At 438, optionally the issuerserver 114 reserves the transaction amount (places a temporary hold onthe transaction amount from dispensing) for the validity of thecomposite QR code. It shall also be noted that the QR code for thescheduled transaction is blocked so as to prevent fraudulent activities.

At 440, the issuer server 114 sends the composite QR code to the firsttransaction terminal 104. Optionally, the composite QR code may be sentto a user device associated with the assignee 108. At 442, the firsttransaction terminal 104 equipped with a printer is configured to printthe composite QR code and at 444, the composite QR code may be collectedby the assignee 108. The composite QR code may be used by the assignee108 to perform the scheduled transaction and withdraw moneycorresponding to the transaction amount from the second transactionterminal 112.

In one example, multiple users may assign their respective QR codes tothe assignee 108. The assignee 108 may now combine the multiple QR codesreceived from multiple users into one single QR code i.e. the compositeQR code. In one example, the composite QR code may be configured withmultiple QR code data from multiple users along with identity of theassignee 108. The process of combining two or more QR codes into thecomposite QR code eliminates the process of performing multipletransactions for withdrawal of cash for two or more users by theassignee 108. The process of performing a combined transaction bycombining two or more QR codes into the composite QR code is describedwith reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 represents a sequence flow diagram 500 of generating a compositeQR code at the first transaction terminal 104 for processing a combinedtransaction of one or more scheduled transactions at the secondtransaction terminal 112, in accordance with an example embodiment ofthe present disclosure. At 502, the assignee 108 collects QR codes fromtwo or more users for two or more scheduled transactions. In oneembodiment, each of the QR codes may be intermediate composite codesincluding user account details, a transaction amount, and authenticationattribute of the assignee 108 when a user (e.g., the user 106) assignsthe scheduled transaction to the assignee 108. The assigning of each QRcode to the assignee 108 is as described with reference to FIG. 4. Insome example embodiments, the QR codes of users may not be individuallyassigned to the assignee 108, and such QR codes include user accountdetails and transaction amount only. In such an example scenario, eachuser of the two or more users optionally authenticate themselves andthen authorize the assignee 108 to combine the QR codes for generatingthe composite QR code that facilitates the combined transaction.

At 504, the assignee 108 provides at least one authentication attribute,such as facial features at the first transaction terminal 104. At 506,the first transaction terminal 104 sends the authentication attribute tothe issuer server 114. At 508, the issuer server 114 processes thereceived facial features so as to identify the assignee 108 and useraccount details related to the assignee 108.

At 510, a message establishing identity of the assignee 108 and useraccount details of the assignee 108, is sent to the first transactionterminal 104. At 512, the first transaction terminal 104 prompts theassignee 108 to provide a password to authorize the assignee 108 tocombine two or more QR codes for generating a composite QR code for acombined transaction. In one example, the password may be a graphicalcode that is linked to the user account details of the assignee 108 soas to verify the identity of the assignee 108.

At 514, the assignee 108 provides the graphical code at the firsttransaction terminal 104 via a graphical keypad. At 516, the graphicalcode is sent to the issuer server 114. At 518, the issuer server 114verifies the identity of the assignee 108 based on the graphical code.In one example the graphical code may be a security password configuredto identify the assignee 108. In other words, the assignee 108, assignedto carry out cash withdrawal on behalf of the user 106, is assigned witha graphical code specific to accessing user account of the assignee 108.The graphical code is configured to authorize the interaction of theassignee 108 with the first transaction terminal 104, the issuer server114, and the second transaction terminal 112. At 520, the issuer server114 sends a message indicating authentication approval or decline to thefirst transaction terminal 104 based on verification of the graphicalcode. At 522, the first transaction terminal 104 prompts the assignee108 to scan two or more QR codes. For example, the first transactionterminal 104 may provide one or more transaction options for theassignee 108 for processing transactions. In an example embodiment, theassignee 108 may provide a selection input on a transaction optioncorresponding to combining two or more QR codes (see, FIG. 8A). In oneexample, when the assignee 108 selects the transaction option forcombining two or more QR codes, the first transaction terminal 104 mayplay a message requesting the assignee 108 to scan the two or more QRcodes. For example, the message may sound similar to, ‘KINDLY SCANMULTIPLE QR CODES ASSIGNED TO YOU’, or in another example, the firsttransaction terminal 104 may display a message requesting the assignee108 to scan the two or more QR codes.

At 524, the assignee 108 may provide the two or more QR codes to thefirst transaction terminal 104. At 526, the first transaction terminal104 may scan two or more QR codes, by scanning one QR code at a time. Inone example, the first transaction terminal 104, configured with acamera, scans two or more QR codes assigned to the assignee 108 by twoor more users, for example, QR code printed on paper or QR codesdisplayed via user devices.

At 528, the first transaction terminal 104 sends the QR code datacaptured from the two or more QR codes to the issuer server 114. At 530,the issuer server 114 retrieves QR code data associated with each QRcode for a scheduled transaction. The QR code data for each QR code ofthe two or more QR codes may include information such as but not limitedto a validity of the QR code, a user account details, a transactionamount, and optionally an assignee details. At 532, the issuer server114 checks the validity of each QR code of two or more QR codes. Thevalidity of the QR code may include, but not limited to, expiry dateand/or expiry time of the QR code to determine if the QR codecorresponding to the scheduled transaction is valid.

At 534, the issuer server 114 generates a composite QR code by combiningthe two or more QR codes. For example, the composite QR code may includeuser account details of the plurality of users for the two or morescheduled transactions, transaction amount for each scheduledtransaction of the two or more scheduled transactions and at least oneauthentication attribute of the assignee 108.

In one example, at 536, the issuer server 114 may restrict transactionsusing individual QR codes when the composite QR code is generated. Thisprevents fraudulent activities using the discarded QR code. At 538, theissuer server 114 provides the composite QR code to the firsttransaction terminal 104. At 540, the first transaction terminal 104equipped with a printer prints the composite QR code, and at 542, theassignee 108 collects the composite QR code. Once the composite QR codeis generated, the assignee 108 may perform the combined transaction fromthe second transaction terminal 112 using the composite QR code. Anexample of the assignee 108 performing the combined transaction at thesecond transaction terminal 112 for the two or more scheduledtransactions is shown and explained with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6A represents a sequence flow diagram 600 of the assignee 108performing a combined transaction for one or more scheduled transactionsat the second transaction terminal 112, in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure. The assignee 108 carries thecomposite QR code generated for a scheduled transaction (explained withreference to FIG. 4) or two or more scheduled transactions (explainedwith reference to FIG. 5) to the second transaction terminal 112 (e.g.,the ATM interface) for performing the combined transaction.

At 602, the assignee 108 provides at least one biometric data, such asfacial features at the second transaction terminal 112. The assignee 108may walk to the second transaction terminal 112 and the secondtransaction terminal 112 may capture facial features of the assignee108. The biometric data provided by the assignee 108 may also be atauthentication attribute embedded in the composite QR code for verifyingcredentials of the assignee 108. At 604, the second transaction terminal112 sends the facial features to the issuer server 114.

At 606, the issuer server 114 processes the facial features foridentifying user account details and retrieving the user account detailscorresponding to the assignee 108. Optionally, the facial features mayalso be used to verify identity of the assignee 108 so as to determineif the assignee 108 is the authorized person for the combinedtransaction. At 608, the assignee details, for example, the user accountdetails of the assignee 108 and optionally a message confirming theidentity of the assignee 108 based on the biometric data is sent to thesecond transaction terminal 112.

At 610, the second transaction terminal 112 prompts the assignee 108 toprovide a password for authorizing transactions performed by theassignee 108 at the second transaction terminal 112. At 612, theassignee 108 may provide the password such as, a graphical code at thesecond transaction terminal 112 via a graphical keypad. At 614, thegraphical code is sent to the payment server 120. At 616, the paymentserver 120 forwards the graphical code to the issuer server 114. At 618,the issuer server 114 verifies the graphical code to authenticatetransactions of the assignee 108 to be performed at the secondtransaction terminal 112. In one example the graphical code may be asecurity password configured to identify the assignee 108 and provideaccess to the user account of the assignee 108. In other words, theassignee 108, assigned to carry out cash withdrawal on behalf of theuser 106, is assigned with a graphical code specific for the assignee108. The assigned graphical code is configured to authorize interactionof the assignee 108 with the first transaction terminal 104, the issuerserver 114, and the second transaction terminal 112.

At 620, the issuer server 114 sends an authentication approval ordecline message to the payment server 120. At 622, the payment server120 forwards the authentication approval or decline message to thesecond transaction terminal 112. At 624, the second transaction terminal112 prompts the assignee 108 to provide the composite QR code. In atleast one example embodiment, the second transaction terminal 112determines that a combined transaction of one or more scheduledtransactions is linked with the assignee 108 based on the user accountdetails of the assignee 108 and prompts the assignee 108 to provide thecomposite QR code for the one or more scheduled transactions.Alternatively, the second transaction terminal 112 may provide one ormore transaction options and the assignee 108 may select a transactionoption associated with combined transactions. In one embodiment, whenthe second transaction terminal 112 detects that the assignee 108intends to perform the combined transactions, the second transactionterminal 112 may play a message requesting the assignee 108 to scan thecomposite QR code. The message may sound like, ‘KINDLY SCAN THE QRCODE’, or the second transaction terminal 112 may display a messagerequesting the assignee 108 to scan the composite QR code.

At 626, the assignee 108 provides the composite QR code to the secondtransaction terminal 112. For example, the assignee 108 may flash thecomposite QR code (printed on a piece of paper or displayed on a displayscreen of user device of the assignee 108) in front of the secondtransaction terminal 112 equipped with a camera. Alternatively, theassignee 108 may feed a paper including the composite QR code toscanning module present in the second transaction terminal 112.

At 628, the second transaction terminal 112 scans the composite QR codeto determine composite QR code data. The composite QR code data mayinclude information such as but not limited to, user account details ofthe one or more users associated with the one or more scheduledtransactions, transaction amount for the one or more scheduledtransactions and the authentication attribute of the assignee 108. At630, the second transaction terminal 112 sends the composite QR codedata to the payment server 120. At 632, the payment server 120 forwardsthe composite QR code data captured from the composite QR code to theissuer server 114.

At 634, the issuer server 114 checks the validity of the composite QRcode. The validity may include, but not limited to, expiry date and/orexpiry time for the composite QR code. In at least one exampleembodiment, the issuer server 114 checks if the authentication attributeof the assignee 108 present in the composite QR code and the biometricdata provided at the second transaction terminal 112 match. In anexample, if the assignee 108 had provided a fingerprint as theauthentication attribute and the biometric data collected at the secondtransaction terminal 112 for authenticating the assignee 108 was facialfeatures, then the second transaction terminal 112 prompts the assignee108 to provide the authentication attribute (fingerprint) so as toauthorize the combined transaction.

At 636, the issuer server 114 debits user accounts of respectivetransaction amount based on the one or more scheduled transactions. Forexample, the composite QR code may include user account details D1, D2,D3 of users U1, U2, U3 for transaction amounts A1, A2, A3, respectively.The issuer server 114 debits user account of user U1 of transactionamount A1, user account of user U2 of transaction amount A2, and useraccount of user U3 of transaction amount A3. At 638, the issuer server114 releases funds for the combined transaction. The issuer server 114approves a transaction request (e.g., the second transaction request)for releasing money associated with the one or more scheduledtransactions. As an example, the issuer server 114 releases moneyequivalent to sum of the transaction amounts A1, A2, and A3 associatedwith the one or more scheduled transactions.

At 640, the issuer server 114 optionally sends a debit message to theone or more users associated with the one or more scheduled transactionson debit of the transaction amount from respective user accounts basedon the composite QR code. At 642 the issuer server 114 sends atransaction approval or decline message to the second transactionterminal 112. At 644, the second transaction terminal 112 dispensesmoney for the combined transaction and the assignee 108 collects themoney. Further, the assignee 108 may distribute the money to the one ormore users associated with the one or more scheduled transactions basedon their respective transaction amount as indicated by the composite QRcode.

FIG. 6B represents a sequence flow diagram 650 of the assignee 108performing a combined transaction for one or more scheduled transactionsat the second transaction terminal 112, in accordance with an exampleembodiment of the present disclosure. The assignee 108 carries thecomposite QR code generated for a scheduled transaction (explained withreference to FIG. 4) or two or more scheduled transactions (explainedwith reference to FIG. 5) to the second transaction terminal 112 (e.g.,the merchant terminal 651) for performing the combined transaction.

At 652, the assignee 108 provides at least one biometric data, such asfacial features at the merchant terminal 651. For example, the assignee108 may visit a merchant facility of a merchant associated with themerchant 651 for purchasing goods/services. After purchasing theproducts/services he/she may walk to the merchant terminal 651 and themerchant terminal 651 may capture facial features of the assignee 108.The merchant terminal 651 may also be an e-commerce merchant storefacilitated by the merchant. At 654, the merchant terminal 651 sends thefacial features to the acquirer server 116. At 656, the acquirer server116 forwards the facial features to the issuer server 114 via thepayment server 120.

At 658, the issuer server 114 processes the facial features foridentifying user account details and retrieving the user account detailscorresponding to the assignee 108. At 660, the assignee details, forexample, the user account details of the assignee 108 and optionally amessage confirming the identity of the assignee 108 based on thebiometric data is sent to the acquirer server 116 via the payment server120 which forwards the same to the merchant terminal 651 (see, 662).

At 664, the merchant terminal 651 prompts the assignee 108 to provide apassword for authorizing transactions performed by the assignee 108 atthe merchant terminal 651. At 666, the assignee 108 may provide thepassword such as, a graphical code at the merchant terminal 651 via agraphical keypad. At 668, the graphical code is sent to the acquirerserver 116. At 670, the acquirer server 116 forwards the graphical codeto the payment server 120. At 672, the payment server 120 forwards thegraphical code to the issuer server 114. At 674, the issuer server 114verifies the graphical code to authenticate transactions of the assignee108 to be performed at the merchant terminal 651.

At 676, the issuer server 114 sends an authentication approval ordecline message to the payment server 120. At 678, the payment server120 forwards the authentication approval or decline message to theacquirer server 116 which forwards the authentication approval ordecline message to the merchant terminal 651 (see, 680). At 682, themerchant terminal 651 prompts the assignee 108 to provide the compositeQR code. In at least one example embodiment, the merchant terminal 651determines that a combined transaction of one or more scheduledtransactions is linked with the assignee 108 based on the user accountdetails of the assignee 108 and prompts the assignee 108 to provide thecomposite QR code for the one or more scheduled transactions.Alternatively, the merchant terminal 651 may provide one or moretransaction options and the assignee 108 may select a transaction optionassociated with combined transactions. In one embodiment, when themerchant terminal 651 detects that the assignee 108 intends to performthe combined transactions, the merchant terminal 651 may play amessage/display a message requesting the assignee 108 to scan thecomposite QR code.

At 684, the assignee 108 provides the composite QR code to the merchantterminal 651. At 686, the merchant terminal 651 scans the composite QRcode to determine composite QR code data. At 688, the merchant terminal651 sends the composite QR code data to the acquirer server 116 whoforwards it to the payment server 120 (see, 690). At 691, the paymentserver 120 forwards the composite QR code data captured from thecomposite QR code to the issuer server 114.

At 692, the issuer server 114 checks the validity of the composite QRcode. At 693, the issuer server 114 debits user accounts of respectivetransaction amount based on the one or more scheduled transactions. At694, the issuer server 114 releases funds for the combined transaction.The issuer server 114 optionally sends a debit message to the one ormore users associated with the one or more scheduled transactions ondebit of the transaction amount from respective user accounts based onthe composite QR code. At 696 the issuer server 114 sends a transactionapproval or decline message to the acquirer server 116. At 697, theacquirer server 116 sends a transaction approval or decline message tothe merchant terminal 651.

At 698, the assignee 108 can collect the goods/services availed at themerchant facility associated with the merchant terminal 651.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a graphical keypad 700 for providing asequential graphical code at the first transaction terminal 104 and/orthe second transaction terminal 112 for authenticating a transaction isillustrated in accordance with an example embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The graphical keypad 700, as an example, can be anelectronic keypad including a control circuitry that converts keypresses into codes. Examples of electronic keypads include opticalkeypads or capacitive keypads. The graphical keypad 700 may be aphysical keypad with soft touch keys or a virtual keypad displayed on aUI of the first transaction terminal 104 and/or the second transactionterminal 112. The virtual keypad may be capable of capturing finger tapinputs, finger gesture inputs, multi-finger tap inputs, multi-fingergesture inputs, or keystroke inputs from a user.

In one example, each key of the graphical keypad 700 may be assignedwith an image. Examples of the images on the graphical keypad 700 mayinclude but not limited to animals, trees, birds, fruits, vegetables,and the like. The graphical keypad 700 is configured to assist the userand/or an assignee to provide a password, which is in the form ofgraphical code, at the first interaction terminal 104 and/or the secondtransaction terminal 112 for authenticating transactions. In an example,the user may be provided with a graphical code, say of sequence, a goat,a scarecrow, a carrot, and a tractor. During a transaction at the firsttransaction terminal 104 and/or second transaction terminal 112, theuser is prompted by the first transaction terminal 104 and/or secondtransaction terminal 112 to provide the graphical code forauthenticating the transaction. The user provides the graphical code ina correct sequence at the first transaction terminal 104 and/or secondtransaction terminal 112 via the graphical keypad 700.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, a schematic representation of a User Interface(UI) 800 provisioned at the first transaction terminal 104 depictingtransaction options for the user is illustrated in accordance with anexample embodiment of the present disclosure.

The first transaction terminal 104 is further configured with thegraphical keypad 700. In one example, the graphical keypad 700 may beconfigured to assist a user to input a password for authenticating atransaction. One example construction of the graphical keypad 700 isdescribed with reference to FIG. 7.

The UI 800 includes a welcome text for the user and an image 802corresponding to the user may be displayed in the UI 800 along with ausername of the user. In an example, the first transaction terminal 104may capture biometric data, for example, facial features when the userwalks to the first transaction terminal 104 for performing atransaction. The facial features may be used to establish an identity ofthe user and retrieve user account details of the user. The firsttransaction terminal 104 may further authenticate the user by means ofone or more authentication techniques such as biometric data and/orgraphical code. When the user is authenticated, the UI 800 may bedisplayed to the user.

The UI 800 may display a plurality of options for the user to perform atleast a part of the transaction at the first transaction terminal 104.For example, the UI 800 may include an option 804 associated with text“GENERATE QR CODE”, an option 806 associated with text “ASSIGN QR CODE”,an option 808 associated with text “BLOCK QR CODE” and an option 810associated with text “COMBINE QR CODE”. The user may use the option 804for generating a QR code for a scheduled transaction. As explained withreference to FIGS. 2 to 6, the user may generate the QR code for (1)performing the scheduled transaction at the second transaction terminal112 using the QR code, (2) assigning the QR code to the assignee 108, or(3) combine the QR code with other QR codes for two or more scheduledtransactions to perform a combined transaction at the second transactionterminal 112. When the user provides a selection input on the option804, the user may be prompted to provide transaction amount for thescheduled transaction. The first transaction terminal 104 then combinesthe transaction amount along with user account details of the user togenerate the QR code for the scheduled transaction.

The option 806 enables the user to assign the QR code to an authorizedperson (also referred to as “an assignee”). If the user may not be ableto perform the scheduled transaction, he/she may authorize the assigneeto perform the scheduled transaction at the second transaction terminal112. When the user provides a selection input on the option 806, thefirst transaction terminal 104 prompts the user to provide the QR codegenerated earlier and at least one authentication attribute of theassignee.

The user may provide a selection input on the option 808 if the userintends to block usage of the QR code that was generated earlier by thefirst transaction terminal 104. The option 810 provides an option forusers of the first transaction terminal 104 to combine one or morescheduled transactions to a combined transaction by combining one ormore QR codes associated with the one or more scheduled transactions.When the user provides a selection input on the option 810, the firsttransaction terminal 104 prompts the user to provide the QR codes. Itshall be noted that the users associated with the one or more QR codesfor the one or more scheduled transactions need to authenticate thegeneration of a composite QR code for a combined transaction from theone or more QR codes prior to assigning the one or more QR codes to theassignee.

In one example, in addition to the above options, the UI 800 may befurther configured with options such as but not limited to ‘CHECKTRANSACTION AMOUNT’ and ‘CHANGE TRANSACTION AMOUNT’ (not shown in theFIG. 8A). In an example, the user can check the transaction amountprovided for the scheduled transaction by selecting the optionassociated with text ‘CHECK TRANSACTION AMOUNT’. The user may beprompted to either display QR code from which the transaction amount isdetermined or upon verifying the user, the first transaction terminal104 may identify a scheduled transaction of the user and provide detailsof the transaction amount. The user can change the transaction amountfor the scheduled transaction by selecting the option associated withtext ‘CHANGE TRANSACTION AMOUNT’. It shall be noted that the UI 800 mayinclude fewer or more options than those depicted on FIG. 8A and theoptions shown in FIG. 8A are for exemplary purposes only.

FIG. 8B illustrates a schematic representation of a UI 830 depicting aQR code 832 generated for a scheduled transaction of the user at thefirst transaction terminal 104, in accordance with an example embodimentof the present disclosure. The UI 830 is displayed to the user whenhe/she provides a selection input on the option 804 of the UI 800.

The user may be requested to provide a transaction amount for thescheduled transaction. It shall be noted that operations such as,retrieving the user account details and authentication of the user areperformed prior and have not been explained herein for the sake ofbrevity. The first transaction terminal 104 may use the user accountdetails and the transaction amount to generate the QR code 832 for thescheduled transaction. The QR code 832 may either be printed on a pieceof paper or sent to a user device of the user.

Referring now to FIG. 8C, a schematic representation of a UI 840depicting scanning of multiple QR codes at the first transactionterminal 104 for generating a composite QR code is illustrated inaccordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The UI840 may be presented to the user (also referred to as ‘the assignee’)when the user provides a selection input on the option 810 of the UI800. In one example, the assignee collects the QR codes that wereindividually assigned to him so as to generate the composite QR code.Alternatively, multiple QR codes associated with multiple scheduledtransactions are provided at the first transaction terminal 104 afterthe users associated with the multiple scheduled transactionsauthenticate themselves individually and authorize the assignee toperform the scheduled transaction on behalf of them at the secondtransaction terminal 112.

The UI 840 displays an image 842 of the assignee upon retrieving useraccount details and authenticating the assignee. The username of theassignee may appear beside the image 842. The UI 840 further includes QRcodes 844, 846 that have been scanned by the first transaction terminal104 prior for generating a combined transaction of one or more scheduledtransactions. The UI 840 includes an add tab 848 beside the QR code 846.The user may provide a selection input on the add tab 848 to scan moresuch QR codes for generating a composite QR code for the combinedtransaction. The UI 840 further includes a tab 850 associated with text“DONE”. The user can provide a selection input on the tab 850 whenhe/she has scanned and uploaded all the QR codes corresponding to theone or more scheduled transactions for generating the composite QR codefor the combined transaction.

The composite code 864 generated in response to a request to combine theone or more QR codes of the one or more scheduled transactions of the UI860 is shown in FIG. 8D. For example, when the user clicks on the tab850, the first transaction terminal 104 generates the composite QR code864 as shown in the UI 860. The UI 860 optionally includes username andthe image 842 of the assignee.

Referring now to FIG. 9, a flow diagram of a method 900 for processing acombined transaction at the second transaction terminal 112 in responseto a composite machine readable code generated at the first transactionterminal 104 is illustrated in accordance with an example embodiment ofthe present disclosure. Operations of the flow diagram, and combinationsof operation in the flow diagram, may be implemented by, for example,hardware, firmware, a processor, circuitry, and/or a different deviceassociated with the execution of software that includes one or morecomputer program instructions. The operations of the method 900 aredescribed herein with help of the issuer server 114. It is noted thatthe operations of the method 900 can be described and/or practiced byusing a server system other than the issuer server 114 such as, theacquirer server 116 or the payment server 120. The method 900 starts atoperation 902.

At operation 902, the method 900 includes receiving, by a server system,a first transaction request for performing a combined transaction forone or more scheduled transactions at a first transaction terminal. Thefirst transaction terminal is configured to generate one or more machinereadable codes for the one or more scheduled transactions. Each machinereadable code of the one or more machine readable codes is associatedwith a scheduled transaction of the one or more scheduled transactions.For instance, users U1, U2, and U3 intend to perform a transaction, forexample, withdrawal at the second transaction terminal 112. The usersU1, U2, and U3 visit a local terminal i.e. the first transactionterminal installed nearby to generate machine readable codes for theirrespective transactions. The first transaction terminal provisionsoptions for cardless transactions and hence, the users U1, U2, and U3are identified based on respective biometric data. The user accountdetails are retrieved based on the biometric data and the users arefurther authenticated using other authentication options such as,password and various biometric data. In an example, the user U1 canprovide a transaction amount A1 for scheduled transaction (T1) and thefirst transaction terminal generates a machine readable code, forexample, a QR code (Q1) for the scheduled transaction (T1). Similarly,the first transaction terminal generates QR codes Q2, Q3 for scheduledtransactions S2, S3 of the users U2, U3 for transaction amounts of A2,A3, respectively. It shall be noted that the QR codes Q1, Q2, Q3 aregenerated sequentially in response to initiation of the scheduledtransactions S1, S2, S3. As an example, the QR code (Q1) includes useraccount details of the user U1, validity of the QR code Q1 and thetransaction amount A1 for the scheduled transaction S1. In an example,users U1, U2 are unable to visit the second transaction terminal. Hence,the users U1, U2 may intend to authorize the user U3 (also referred toas ‘assignee’) to perform the scheduled transaction on behalf of theusers U1, U2. In one example, the users U1, U2 and/or assignee U3 mayplace a first transaction request for combining one or more scheduledtransactions. For instance, the users U1, U2 authorize the user U3 to bethe assignee for the scheduled transactions S1, S2. The assignee U3 mayalso choose to combine the scheduled transactions S1, S2 along with hisscheduled transaction S3. The first transaction request includes the QRcodes Q1, Q2, Q3 and an authentication attribute of the assignee. Theauthentication attribute may be at least one biometric data and/or agraphical code.

At operation 904, the method 900 includes generating, by the serversystem, a composite machine readable code based on the one or moremachine readable codes and at least one authentication attribute of anassignee. The server system receives the first transaction request andgenerates the composite machine readable code, such as, a composite QRcode (C1) for a combined transaction at the second transaction terminal.The composite QR code C1 includes user account details of the users U1,U2, U3, transaction amounts A1, A2, A3 for the scheduled transactionsS1, S2, S3, validity (V1, V2, V3) for the scheduled transactions S1, S2,S3, respectively, and at least one biometric data of the assignee (theuser U3).

At operation 906, the method 900 includes receiving a second transactionrequest for performing the combined transaction via a second transactionterminal. The second transaction request includes the composite machinereadable code. In at least one example embodiment, identity of theassignee U3 may be established at the second transaction terminal. Theassignee U3 may then scan the composite QR code C1 at the secondtransaction terminal. The second transaction terminal initiates thesecond transaction request with the composite QR code C1.

At operation 908, the method 900 includes facilitating the combinedtransaction based at least on authentication of the composite machinereadable code. In an embodiment, when identity of the assignee U3 isestablished, the authentication attribute of the assignee U3 is comparedagainst biometric data received from the assignee U3 at the secondtransaction terminal. In some embodiments, the second transactionterminal may prompt the user to provide the required authenticationattribute. When the assignee authenticates, the combined transactionincludes dispensing money associated with the one or more scheduledtransactions. The transactions amounts A1, A2, A3 for the scheduledtransactions S1, S2, S3 are dispensed at the second transactionterminal.

The sequence of operations of the method 900 need not be necessarilyexecuted in the same order as they are presented. Further, one or moreoperations may be grouped together and performed in form of a singlestep, or one operation may have several sub-steps that may be performedin parallel or in sequential manner.

FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram representing various components ofa first transaction terminal 1000, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe disclosure. The first transaction terminal 1000 is an example of thefirst transaction terminal 104 that is in communication with a serversystem such as the issuer server 114 and/or the second transactionterminal 112 (depicted in FIG. 1). It should be understood that thefirst transaction terminal 1000 as illustrated and hereinafter describedis merely illustrative of one type of system and should not be taken tolimit the scope of the embodiments. As such, it should be appreciatedthat at least some of the components described below in connection withthat of the first transaction terminal 1000 may be optional and thus inan example embodiment may include more, less or different componentsthan those described in connection with the example embodiment of theFIG. 10.

The first transaction terminal 1000 is configured with at least oneprocessing module 1002, a sensor module 1004, a memory 1010, acommunication interface 1012, a display 1014, a graphical keypad 1016, aprinter 1018, a scanner 1020, and a camera module 1022. The illustratedfirst transaction terminal 1000 includes a controller or the processingmodule 1002 (e.g., a signal processor, microprocessor, ASIC, or othercontrol and processing logic circuitry) for performing such tasks assignal coding, data processing, image processing, input/outputprocessing, power control, and/or other functions.

The processing module 1002 is communicably coupled with the sensormodule 1004. The sensor module 1004 includes a microphone 1006 and aproximity sensor 1008. The microphone 1006 is capable of capturing voiceinput of users for facilitating identification and/or verification ofusers based on one or more speech features extracted by the processingmodule 1002. The proximity sensor 1008 is configured to detect objects,for example, users in a close proximity of the first transactionterminal 1000.

The first transaction terminal 1000 includes the memory 1010, forexample, a non-removable memory and/or a removable memory. Thenon-removable memory and/or the removable memory may be collectivelyknown as database in an embodiment. The non-removable memory can includeRAM, ROM, flash memory, a hard disk, or other well-known memory storagetechnologies. The removable memory can include flash memory, smartcards, or a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). The memory 1010 isconfigured to store executable instructions for implementing one or moreembodiments of the disclosure described with reference to FIGS. 1-9.

The communication interface 1012 is configured to communicate withremote devices such as, the second transaction terminal 112 and/or theissuer server 114. Further, the communication interface 1012 isconfigured to receive a request for generating a QR code for performinga scheduled transaction at the second transaction terminal 112 and afirst transaction request for generating a composite QR code for acombined transaction.

The first transaction terminal 1000 provisions one or more UIs (see, theUI 800, 830, 840, and 860) for displaying one or more transactionoptions for the users of the first transaction terminal 1000. Thedisplay 1014 may include, but are not limited to, a touch screen/ascreen capable of capturing finger tap inputs, finger gesture inputs,multi-finger tap inputs, multi-finger gesture inputs, or keystrokeinputs from a virtual keyboard. The graphical keypad 1016 may be avirtual keypad facilitated on the display 1014 or a physical keypadprovided for the users to provide a sequential graphical code forauthentication. In one example, the graphical keypad 1016 may beconfigured with buttons representing images of, for example, animals,objects, colors, and the like. Each graphical code assigned to a userwill be a unique sequence of the images as the graphical code.Additionally or optionally, the graphical keypad 1016 may also beconfigured with numbers. In an example, in addition to the graphicalcode, the issuer server 114 may send an OTP for combined transactions tothe assignee and the assignee authenticates the combined transaction byproviding the OTP at the first transaction terminal 1000. Additionallyor optionally, the graphical keypad 1016 may include one or more keysprovisioning options such as, cancel, clear and enter.

The printer 1018 is configured to print QR codes and composite QR codesthat embed information such as, user account details, transactionamount, validity of the QR code, and optionally an authenticationattribute of an assignee among other information. The scanner 1020 isconfigured to read a machine-readable encrypted code such as the QR codefor generating the composite QR code for a combined transaction. Anexample of the scanner 1020 is a QR code scanner. The camera module 1022is, capable of capturing still images and/or video images of usersperforming a transaction at the first transaction terminal 1000. Morespecifically, the camera module 1022 is configured to capture facialfeatures of the user and/or the authorized person (assignee). Thecaptured data is processed in the processing module 1002 and furtherforwarded to the issuer server 114 via the communication interface 1012for identification, authentication or verification.

FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram representing various components ofa second transaction terminal 1100, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe disclosure. The second transaction terminal 1100 is an example ofthe second transaction terminal 112 that is in communication with aserver system such as the issuer server 114 and/or the first transactionterminal 104 (depicted in FIG. 1). It should be understood that thesecond transaction terminal 1100 as illustrated and hereinafterdescribed is merely illustrative of one type of device and should not betaken to limit the scope of the embodiments. As such, it should beappreciated that at least some of the components described below inconnection with that of the second transaction terminal 1100 may beoptional and thus in an example embodiment may include more, less, ordifferent components than those described in connection with the exampleembodiment of the FIG. 11.

The second transaction terminal 1100 is configured with at least oneprocessing module 1102, the sensor module 1104, the memory 1110, thecommunication interface 1112, the display 1114, the graphical keypad1116, the printer 1118, the scanner 1120, the camera module 1122, and acash dispenser 1124. The sensor module 1104 includes a microphone 1106and a proximity sensor 1108. The components 1102, 1104, 1106, 1108,1110, 1114, 1116, 1120, and 1122 have been explained with reference toFIG. 10.

The communication interface 1112 is configured to receive a secondtransaction request including a composite QR code for a combinedtransaction. The scanner 1120 reads the composite QR code to determineuser account details, validity of the one or more scheduledtransactions, transaction amounts of the one or more scheduledtransactions, and the authentication attribute of the assignee. Theassignee is authenticated using one or more authentication techniquessuch as, biometric techniques employed on biometric data acquired viathe sensor module 1104 and/or the camera module 1122. Uponauthenticating identity of the assignee, the processing module 1102instructs the cash dispenser 1124 to dispense money equivalent to sum oftransaction amounts of the one or more scheduled transactions based onthe composite QR code to the assignee.

FIG. 12 is a simplified block diagram of a server system 1200 used forfacilitating a combined transaction, in accordance with one embodimentof the present disclosure. The server system 1200 is an example of aserver system that is a part of the payment network 118. Examples of theserver system 1200 include, but not limited to, the payment server 120,the acquirer server 116, and the issuer server 114. The server system1200 includes a computer system 1205 and a database 1210.

The computer system 1205 includes at least one processor 1215 forexecuting instructions. Instructions may be stored in, for example, butnot limited to, a memory 1220. The processor 1215 may include one ormore processing units (e.g., in a multi-core configuration).

The processor 1215 is operatively coupled to a communication interface1225 such that the computer system 1205 is capable of communicating witha remote device 1235 such as the first transaction terminal 104 and/orthe second transaction terminal 112 or communicating with any entitywithin the payment network 118. For example, the communication interface1225 may receive the first transaction request for generating acomposite QR code for one or more scheduled transactions. In oneembodiment, the communication interface 1225 may receive a secondtransaction request for processing a combined transaction at the secondtransaction terminal 112.

The processor 1215 may also be operatively coupled to the database 1210.The database 1210 is any computer-operated hardware suitable for storingand/or retrieving data, such as, but not limited to, customer data suchas, user account details and plurality of biometric data including datarelating to previous transactions, authorized person, and transactiondetails. The database 1210 may also store information related to aplurality of user's payment accounts. Each user account data includes atleast one of an account holder name, an account holder address, anaccount number, MPIN, at least one biometric data, a graphical code, andother account identifiers. The database 1210 may also store informationof a plurality requests generated by the user such as, but not limitedto, cash withdrawal request, QR code generation request, QR codeassignment (to the authorized person) request. The database 1210 mayinclude multiple storage units such as hard disks and/or solid-statedisks in a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) configuration.The database 1210 may include a storage area network (SAN) and/or anetwork attached storage (NAS) system.

In some embodiments, the database 1210 is integrated within the computersystem 1205. For example, the computer system 1205 may include one ormore hard disk drives such as the database 1210. In other embodiments,the database 1210 is external to the computer system 1205 and may beaccessed by the computer system 1205 using a storage interface 1230. Thestorage interface 1230 is any component capable of providing theprocessor 1215 with access to the database 1210. The storage interface1230 may include, for example, an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA)adapter, a Serial ATA (SATA) adapter, a Small Computer System Interface(SCSI) adapter, a RAID controller, a SAN adapter, a network adapter,and/or any component providing the processor 1215 with access to thedatabase 1210.

The processor 1215 is configured to facilitate cardless accessing of theuser account remotely. The processor 1215 is configured to perform oneor more of the functions such as: receive at least one biometric datafrom the user and/or the authorized person, process the receivedbiometric data, generate a composite QR code that authorizes theassignee to perform a scheduled transaction on behalf of the user, printthe QR code, and process a combined transaction. The processor 1215 isfurther configured to facilitate the authentication of the user 106 byverifying the biometric data, PIN/OTP, validity of the QR code byaccessing respective information from the database 1210.

FIG. 13 is a simplified block diagram of an issuer server 1300 forfacilitating a combined transaction, in accordance with one embodimentof the present disclosure. The issuer server 1300 is an example of theissuer server 114 of FIG. 1 or may be embodied in the issuer server 114.The issuer server 1300 is associated with an issuer bank/issuer, inwhich a customer may have a user account. The issuer server 1300includes a processing module 1305 operatively coupled to a storagemodule 1310, a verification module 1315, and a communication module1320. The components of the issuer server 1300 provided herein may notbe exhaustive and that the issuer server 1300 may include more or fewercomponents than that of depicted in FIG. 13. Further, two or morecomponents may be embodied in one single component, and/or one componentmay be configured using multiple sub-components to achieve the desiredfunctionalities. Some components of the issuer server 1300 may beconfigured using hardware elements, software elements, firmwareelements, and/or a combination thereof.

The storage module 1310 is configured to store machine executableinstructions to be accessed by the processing module 1305. Additionally,the storage module 1310 stores information related to, contactinformation of a user and/or assignee, bank account number, availabilityof funds in the account, biometric data, and other information of theuser and/or assignee and/or the like. This information is retrieved bythe processing module 1305 for validation during cardless accessing ofthe user account.

The processing module 1305 is configured to communicate with one or moreremote devices such as a remote device 1325 using the communicationmodule 1320 over a network such as the network 110 or the paymentnetwork 118 of FIG. 1. The examples of the remote device 1325 include,the first transaction terminal 104, the second transaction terminal 112,the payment server 120, or other computing systems of the issuer server114 and the payment network 118 and the like. The communication module1320 is capable of facilitating such operative communication with theremote devices and cloud servers using API (Application ProgramInterface) calls. The communication module 1320 is further configured toreceive a first transaction request for generating a composite QR code.In some example embodiments, the communication module 1320 receives thesecond transaction request for processing the combined transaction basedon the composite QR code.

FIG. 14 is a simplified block diagram of a payment server 1400 forfacilitating a combined transaction, in accordance with one embodimentof the present disclosure. The payment server 1400 may correspond to thepayment server 120 of FIG. 1. As explained with reference to FIG. 1, thepayment server 120 is associated with the payment network 118. Thepayment network 118 may be used by the issuer server 114 and theacquirer server 116 as a payment interchange network. Examples ofpayment interchange network include, but not limited to, Mastercard®payment system interchange network. The payment server 1400 includes aprocessing module 1405 configured to extract programming instructionsfrom a storage system 1410 to provide various features of the presentdisclosure. Via a communication interface 1415, the processing module1405 is connected to a remote device 1420 such as the issuer server 114and the acquirer server 116. The components of the payment server 1400provided herein may not be exhaustive, and that the payment server 1400may include more or fewer components than that of depicted in FIG. 14.Further, two or more components may be embodied in one single component,and/or one component may be configured using multiple sub-components toachieve the desired functionalities. Some components of the paymentserver 1400 may be configured using hardware elements, softwareelements, firmware elements, and/or a combination thereof.

Although the disclosure has been described with reference to specificexemplary embodiments, it is noted that various modifications andchanges may be made to these embodiments without departing from thebroad spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example, the variousoperations, blocks, etc. described herein may be enabled and operatedusing hardware circuitry (for example, complementary metal oxidesemiconductor (CMOS) based logic circuitry), firmware, software and/orany combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software (for example,embodied in a machine-readable medium). For example, the apparatuses andmethods may be embodied using transistors, logic gates, and electricalcircuits (for example, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)circuitry and/or in Digital Signal Processor (DSP) circuitry).

Particularly, the server system 1200 (e.g., the servers 114, 116, and118) and its various components such as the computer system 1205 and thedatabase 1210 may be enabled using software and/or using transistors,logic gates, and electrical circuits (for example, integrated circuitcircuitry such as ASIC circuitry). Various embodiments of the disclosuremay include one or more computer programs stored or otherwise embodiedon a computer-readable medium, wherein the computer programs areconfigured to cause a processor or computer to perform one or moreoperations. A computer-readable medium storing, embodying, or encodedwith a computer program, or similar language, may be embodied as atangible data storage device storing one or more software programs thatare configured to cause a processor or computer to perform one or moreoperations. Such operations may be, for example, any of the steps oroperations described herein. In some embodiments, the computer programsmay be stored and provided to a computer using any type ofnon-transitory computer readable media. Non-transitory computer readablemedia include any type of tangible storage media. Examples ofnon-transitory computer readable media include magnetic storage media(such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives, etc.), opticalmagnetic storage media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROM (compactdisc read only memory), CD-R (compact disc recordable), CD-R/W (compactdisc rewritable), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), BD (BLU-RAY® Disc), andsemiconductor memories (such as mask ROM, PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM(erasable PROM), flash memory, RAM (random access memory), etc.).Additionally, a tangible data storage device may be embodied as one ormore volatile memory devices, one or more non-volatile memory devices,and/or a combination of one or more volatile memory devices andnon-volatile memory devices. In some embodiments, the computer programsmay be provided to a computer using any type of transitory computerreadable media. Examples of transitory computer readable media includeelectric signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitorycomputer readable media can provide the program to a computer via awired communication line (e.g., electric wires, and optical fibers) or awireless communication line.

Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application ofthe claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more of theexample embodiments disclosed herein is to provide methods and systemsfor performing a combined transaction at an ATM interface. Morespecifically, rural users can perform at least a part of theirtransaction at a local terminal (referred to as ‘the first transactionterminal’) and thereby authorize an assignee to perform remaining partof the scheduled transaction at the second transaction terminal(referred to as ‘ATM interface’) in a more secure manner. The users canauthenticate the scheduled transaction and thereby preclude sharing ofcredentials such as, password, user account details with the assignee.Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods forcombining one or more scheduled transactions. Combining of the one ormore scheduled transactions spares the assignee the hassle of carryingmultiple QR codes and performing individual transaction for each of theone or more scheduled transactions. Moreover, the local terminal and theATM interface are configured to process cardless transactions.Therefore, the terminals (local terminal and the ATM interface) areadapted to facilitate cardless transactions using alternate mechanismssuch as, identifying, authenticating and verifying users based onvarious biometric data. Further, the numeric PIN for authenticatingtransactions is replaced by graphical codes/images that may be easierfor a rural user to remember and recollect. Furthermore, the terminalsensure ease of using the terminals by communicating with users inregional language/preferred language.

Various embodiments of the disclosure, as discussed above, may bepracticed with steps and/or operations in a different order, and/or withhardware elements in configurations, which are different than thosewhich, are disclosed. Therefore, although the disclosure has beendescribed based upon these exemplary embodiments, it is noted thatcertain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions may beapparent and well within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Although various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure are describedherein in a language specific to structural features and/ormethodological acts, the subject matter defined in the appended claimsis not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts describedabove. Rather, the specific features and acts described above aredisclosed as exemplary forms of implementing the claims.

1. A method comprising: receiving, by a server system, a firsttransaction request for performing a combined transaction for one ormore scheduled transactions at a first transaction terminal, wherein thefirst transaction terminal is configured to: generate one or moremachine readable codes for the one or more scheduled transactions, eachmachine readable code of the one or more machine readable codesassociated with a scheduled transaction of the one or more scheduledtransactions; generating, by the server system, a composite machinereadable code based on the one or more machine readable codes and atleast one authentication attribute of an assignee; receiving a secondtransaction request for performing the combined transaction via a secondtransaction terminal, the second transaction request comprising thecomposite machine readable code; and facilitating the combinedtransaction based at least on authentication of the composite machinereadable code, wherein the combined transaction is associated with theone or more scheduled transactions.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein receiving the first transaction request comprises: receiving, bythe server system, at least one biometric data from each of one or moreusers for the one or more scheduled transaction; determining, by theserver system, respective user accounts of the one or more users basedon the at least one biometric data; and authenticating the one or moreusers, wherein authenticating a user of the one or more users comprises:receiving, by the server system, a graphical code for authenticating anidentity of the user accessing a user account of the user; andauthenticating, by the server system, the identity of the user bycomparing the graphical code with a pre-stored graphical code of theuser account.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein determiningthe user account of the user comprises: comparing, by the server system,the at least one biometric data of the user with a plurality ofbiometric data, each biometric data of the plurality of biometric dataassociated with the user account of a plurality of user accounts;identifying, by the server system, a biometric data of the plurality ofbiometric data similar to the at least one biometric data; anddetermining, by the server system, the user account associated with thebiometric data.
 4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the at leastone biometric data is one of: one or more facial features; an irispattern; a finger print; and one or more speech features.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein generating the composite machine readablecode comprises concatenating the one or more machine readable codes andthe at least one authentication attribute of the assignee.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: upon generation of thecomposite machine readable code, reserving, by the server system, cashcorresponding to the combined transaction at the second transactionterminal.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least oneauthentication attribute of the assignee is at least one of: an assigneeaccount information; a facial feature of the assignee; an iris patternof the assignee; a finger print of the assignee; and one or more speechfeatures of the assignee.
 8. The method according to claim 1, whereineach machine readable code of the one or more machine readable codes forthe scheduled transaction includes at least one of: a transactionamount; a validity of the machine readable code; identity of a user; anduser account details.
 9. The method according to claim 1, whereinreceiving the second transaction request comprises: receiving, by theserver system, at least one biometric data of the assignee for thecombined transaction; determining, by the server system, a user accountof the assignee based on the at least one biometric data of a user;receiving, by the server system, a graphical code for authenticatingidentity of the assignee; and authenticating, by the server system, theidentity of the assignee by comparing the graphical code with apre-stored graphical code of the user account.
 10. The method accordingto claim 9, further comprising: receiving, by the server system, thecomposite machine readable code from the second transaction terminal;reading, by the server system, the composite machine readable code forretrieving transaction information related to the one or more scheduledtransactions; and determining, by the server system, a validity of themachine readable code by checking an expiry of the machine readablecode.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the combinedtransaction associated with the one or more scheduled transactionsfurther comprises at least one of: dispensing money associated with theone or more scheduled transactions; and purchasing one or more goodsassociated with the one or more scheduled transactions from a merchantterminal.
 12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:facilitating, by the server system, printing of the composite QR code atthe first transaction terminal.
 13. The method according to claim 1,wherein the second transaction terminal is at least one of: an AutomaticTeller Machine (ATM) interface; a Point of Sale (POS) terminal; and anonline merchant interface.
 14. A server system comprising: a memorycomprising stored instructions; and at least one processor configured toexecute the stored instructions to cause the server system to perform atleast: receiving a first transaction request for performing a combinedtransaction for one or more scheduled transactions at a firsttransaction terminal, wherein the first transaction terminal isconfigured to: generate one or more machine readable codes for the oneor more scheduled transactions, each machine readable code of the one ormore machine readable codes associated with a scheduled transaction ofthe one or more scheduled transactions; generating a composite machinereadable code based on the one or more machine readable codes and atleast one authentication attribute of an assignee; receiving a secondtransaction request for performing the combined transaction via a secondtransaction terminal, the second transaction request comprising thecomposite machine readable code; and facilitating the combinedtransaction based at least on authentication of the composite machinereadable code, wherein the combined transaction includes dispensingmoney associated with the one or more scheduled transactions.
 15. Theserver system according to claim 14, wherein for receiving the firsttransaction request the server system is caused to perform: receiving atleast one biometric data from each of one or more users for the one ormore scheduled transaction; determining respective user accounts of theone or more users based on the at least one biometric data; andauthenticating the one or more users, wherein authenticating a user ofthe one or more users comprises: receiving a graphical code forauthenticating an identity of the user accessing a user account of theuser; and authenticating the identity of the user by comparing thegraphical code with a pre-stored graphical code of the user account. 16.The server system according to claim 14, wherein for receiving thesecond transaction request the server system is caused to perform:receiving at least one biometric data of the assignee for the combinedtransaction; determining a user account of the assignee based on the atleast one biometric data of a user; receiving a graphical code forauthenticating identity of the assignee; and authenticating the identityof the assignee by comparing the graphical code with a pre-storedgraphical code of the user account.
 17. The server system according toclaim 16, wherein the server system is further caused to perform:receiving the composite machine readable code from the secondtransaction terminal; reading the composite machine readable code forretrieving transaction information related to the one or more scheduledtransactions; and determining a validity of the machine readable code bychecking an expiry of the machine readable code.
 18. A first transactionterminal comprising: a database for storing executable instructions; acommunication interface configured to receive a first transactionrequest for performing a combined transaction for one or more scheduledtransactions; and a processing module electronically coupled to thecommunication interface and the database, the processing moduleconfigured to execute the executable instructions to perform at least:generating one or more machine readable codes for the one or morescheduled transactions, each machine readable code of the one or moremachine readable codes associated with a scheduled transaction of theone or more scheduled transactions; and generating a composite machinereadable code based on the one or more machine readable codes and atleast one authentication attribute of an assignee, wherein the compositemachine readable code is configured to perform the combined transactionat a second transaction terminal, and wherein each of the one or morescheduled transactions is a cash withdrawal for one or more users, andwherein the combined transaction is a group cash withdrawal by anassignee for the one or more users.
 19. The first transaction terminalaccording to claim 18, further comprising: a sensor module comprisingone or more sensors in operative communication with the processingmodule, the sensor module configured to receive at least one biometricdata from a user for the scheduled transaction, wherein a biometric datais one of one or more facial features, an iris pattern, a finger print,and one or more speech features.
 20. The first transaction terminalaccording to claim 18, further comprising a graphical keypad inoperative communication with the processing module, the graphical keypadconfigured to receive a graphical code for authenticating identity of auser accessing a user account.